Vauxhall’s latest performance bad boy is the new and rather little Corsa VXR, this little hot hatch is set to take on the Ford Fiesta ST and Peugeot 208 GTi in a playground showdown to end all others. Under the bonnet is a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine delivering 202 bhp and 245Nm of torque. This is good for a 0-60 mph sprint in 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 143 mph. Kicking out 174 g/km of CO2, Vauxhall claims that the Corsa VXR is capable of 37.7 mpg. Standard equipment includes a 6-speed short-shift manual gearbox, a Koni Frequently Selective Damper and a two-stage switchable ESP and Traction Control. Setting the VXR apart from its more down-to-earth brother are some serious styling upgrades in the form of a VXR rear roof spoiler, grille, side sills and rear bumper with diffuser combined with Remus dual exhausts. Add some large intakes and a bonnet scoop to that list and you wouldn’t want to meet this car in a dark unlit alleyway. The bixenon headlights and LED daytime running lights make it stand out a little bit more, in case you hadn’t noticed that overload of VXR styling. Inside, air con and cruise control are joined by an Intellilink infotainment system which will let you connect an Android or iOS device. Some of the sporty aspects include a leather flat-bottomed 3-spoke steering wheel, Recaro seats, sports pedals and a VXR gearstick and instruments cluster. A choice of 6 interior and 6 exterior colours are available, but to further personalise the Corsa VXR you can add the Performance Package, the VXR Carbon Pack (which add carbon fibre effect exterior trims), the VXR Technical Pack or a Panoramic sunroof. For £2,400 the Performance Package adds a Drexler limited-slip differential, 330mm Brembo front disk brakes, 18-inch alloys and Michelin Pilot Supersport tyres. The VXR Technical Pack gives you the right to brag about a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors and an array of safety features. Pricing is yet to be announced, but we’re expecting a price tag of near £19,000.